14 replies to this topic

[lindsayb1]

Hi Everyone!

A little about myself. I have always had acne as a child, early teens and etc. When i was 24, i went on DESOGEN birth control pills. My sister also went on it same year, she was 23. Last year, she was 27 yrs old and decided to get off of it and she had MAJOR acne (she NEVER had acne before she got on the pill) and she was very scarred from it. It took her exactly 1 year and 6 months for the acne to completely dissapear, although she was left with some deep scarring. Her self esteem improved tremendously. NOW- Since I wanted to no longer put synthetic hormones into my body and at 29, i decided to get off the pill too. However, rather than quitting BCP cold turkey, i started to lower my dosages little by little each month. This meant that i would cut my bcp pill dosages wiht a small razor. SO first month, i took a quarter off the pill, second month, another quarter, so on, so on until i was left with a quarter of the pill each month, down to nothing. i thought weaning my body would be less traumatic with the hormonal balance not being out of wack. Tomorrow is EXACTLY 30 days since I have stopped the pill and so far- NO severe acne yet. I am terrified though because i have heard that acne can start within 2 months getting off the pill. I am taking VITEX/ DONG QUAI every day since i've stopped the pill and I am hoping this is keeping my hormones balanced. In addition to the weaning off the pill, perhaps this might be the best case for some people who are NOT sexually active but wanting to get off the pill (by weaning urself off and getting NATURAL herbal supplements to get your hormones balanced) of course, eat a healthy diet bc i have PCOS so my periods don't come lightly. I would love to hear some success stories of people who's acne dissappeared after BCP???

P.S.- i have been spreading PLAIN greek yogurt all over my face at night before i go to bed. It STOPS pimples from forming. I've heard it works wonders!

Edited by lindsayb1, 29 December 2010 - 02:39 PM.

[Siava]

lindsayb1, I'm glad you haven't had a flare-up. Hopefully it'll stay that way. The same flares can happen when people stop antibiotics cold turkey as well. I wish more doctors would inform patients about this.

[lindsayb1]

lindsayb1, I'm glad you haven't had a flare-up. Hopefully it'll stay that way. The same flares can happen when people stop antibiotics cold turkey as well. I wish more doctors would inform patients about this.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENT!

[acgerstenberger]

Hey lindsayb1,

I was put on birth control when I was 14 years old due to horrendous periods, rupturing ovarian cysts and many other dramatic and life-altering affects directly associated with my monthly cycle. I've tried the pill, the patch, and had the most success with Nuvaring. I'm 24 now, and have never been sexually active.

I had my tonsils taken out back in August 2010, had to take antibiotics, and that severely screwed up my, uh, "downstairs." Heavy discharge (my crotch felt velcroed to my underwear), itching, burning, you name it - I was experiencing it. I tried natural remedies, prescriptions - I couldn't get my body straight again. My doctor finally suggested going off birth control to see if my body somehow couldn't "heal" while the ring was in place. So, I took it out the end of October 2010. November - clear skin - maybe one pimple. December went fairly smooth - maybe two pimples. January - six pimples. Next month? Who knows. I'm really hoping that I just had the worst of it this month. My stepmother is an RN, and she told me that it takes our bodies about three months to adjust to hormonal shifts like the one I threw my body into after taking birth control for 10 years.

I'll be sure to keep you posted. So far, the yeasty terribleness that I was experiencing has gone away, and if my body goes through this next month without upset, I'll be kicking BC until I actually fricking need it.

[lindsayb1]

Hey lindsayb1,

I was put on birth control when I was 14 years old due to horrendous periods, rupturing ovarian cysts and many other dramatic and life-altering affects directly associated with my monthly cycle. I've tried the pill, the patch, and had the most success with Nuvaring. I'm 24 now, and have never been sexually active.

I had my tonsils taken out back in August 2010, had to take antibiotics, and that severely screwed up my, uh, "downstairs." Heavy discharge (my crotch felt velcroed to my underwear), itching, burning, you name it - I was experiencing it. I tried natural remedies, prescriptions - I couldn't get my body straight again. My doctor finally suggested going off birth control to see if my body somehow couldn't "heal" while the ring was in place. So, I took it out the end of October 2010. November - clear skin - maybe one pimple. December went fairly smooth - maybe two pimples. January - six pimples. Next month? Who knows. I'm really hoping that I just had the worst of it this month. My stepmother is an RN, and she told me that it takes our bodies about three months to adjust to hormonal shifts like the one I threw my body into after taking birth control for 10 years.

I'll be sure to keep you posted. So far, the yeasty terribleness that I was experiencing has gone away, and if my body goes through this next month without upset, I'll be kicking BC until I actually fricking need it.

Oh wow, you definitely have been through a lot!!! One thing i would recommend taking is dong quai and vitex chasteberry. This is wat I have been using which are NATURAL herbal remedies to get your hormones balanced naturally. PLUS, i've been drinking lemon water daily to help cleanse my liver. GOOD luck. SO far, i am on month 2 and i have been very consistent with NO breakouts. FIRST time i went off a few years ago, i was having HORRIBLE cysts. This time around, i was careful to wean off. I wish you all the best!

[superfrizbee]

I've been off BC for about 6 weeks as I thought it was contributing to my skin problems. So far my skin much better (no active acne) - fingers crossed! I dreaded this kind of post BC breakout though, and what I've tried to do to balance my hormones as quickly as possible is:

- Cook from scratch - plenty of fresh fruit and veg
- Only wholegrain carbs
- Plenty of water
- No caffeine
- Reduce sugar intake (except from fruit)
- 1000mg evening primrose oil
- Agnus castus supplement
- Exercise 3x weekly
- Spearmint tea twice daily (good for promoting estrogen and lowering testosterone levels)

I hope this helps!

[acgerstenberger]

Hey ladies,

Well, I've done fairly well on this "kicking the BC" plan. I did get three pimples on my chin (one of which was bigger), but I don't mind acne on my chin too much. They usually heal fast and don't leave any scarring.

I started taking Dong Quai (liquid form - really gross) and I'm going to purchase some vitex chasteberry. Last time I was at the health foods store, they were out. Hopefully they'll have some when I stop by tomorrow.

My body is so messed up - I'm not having any periods even though I quit taking BC a while back... It might take me more along the lines of a year to get balanced out...

[N.clare]

Hey ladies,

Well, I've done fairly well on this "kicking the BC" plan. I did get three pimples on my chin (one of which was bigger), but I don't mind acne on my chin too much. They usually heal fast and don't leave any scarring.

I started taking Dong Quai (liquid form - really gross) and I'm going to purchase some vitex chasteberry. Last time I was at the health foods store, they were out. Hopefully they'll have some when I stop by tomorrow.

My body is so messed up - I'm not having any periods even though I quit taking BC a while back... It might take me more along the lines of a year to get balanced out...

I think you are right, this takes a very long time for some people.....
I came off the pill beginning of oct after 4.5years, by the end of november i was getting horrid cystic acne on my cheeks... huge ones that would stay for ages and leave very red marks. I went about 4 months without a period. When I did finally have one my skin started to calm down, i thought my body was back on track but I waited about another 2 months for my next period and in that time my cysts all came back... that was last week, im now hoping that the cysts die and my periods become normal again!
Its so distressing as these cheek ones leave such nasty marks and as its hormonal theyre completely out of my control.
I read on another forum page that taking feminax ultra(UK) the generic name for the drug is Naproxen, for a few days before/during your hormonal acne kicks in is supposed to help. Its an anti inflammatory so should help... i havent tried it yet though, i think i will

[Kristabel]

I have been trying to establish a correlation between experiencing acne after birth control and how long it takes for your periods to come back/cycle return to normal.

Im trying to help those who want to come off or those who have just come off birth control. There are many factors and i have been trying to gather information within this other current thread:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Acne-stop...html&st=200

If your experiencing acne after birth control please read my posts in the thread above and respond to them

[Aisha123]

Hi All.

I went off birth control after 12 years. Prior to taking the pill I had never had breakouts, even as a teenager. However, after going off the pill my face and back broke out terrible. Every morning was a new blemish. I tried all the high priced washes, changed my diet, consulted a doctor and nothing worked. This lasted for a year and was not showing any improvement.

Then, on a whim I took the Advocare 24 day challenge. I did the 10 day cleanse and then MNS Max 3. I was hoping to lose a few pounds before vacation and it worked, but the best side effect was that my skin cleared up in just a few days and has stayed clear since. I think the detox coupled with the vitamins really worked. I still take the vitamins and use some of the other supplements and have never felt better. I just wanted to share.

[feiticeria]

lindsay b1, how is your progress? My experience coming off BC (Diane) cold turkey a few years ago also resulted in my acne coming back, so interested to see how you're going with the weaning strategy.

[Kalbibella]

Hi there! I'm new to this. I'm trying to get some advice and basically talk to someone that is going through a similar situation that I am going through. I stopped taking bc pills after about 9 years in Sept and my skin was good until Dec. I've always had pimples and breakouts but my acne was mild on the bc. My skin has progressively started to get worse and worse month by month after stopping the bc and I am starting to feel very depressed over it. I really don't know where to go from here. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and I know it's hormonal acne, but my dermatologist thinks the only thing that will help is going back on bc pills and trying a round of accutane. I took accutane about 8 years ago and it seemed to minimize my acne but it wasn't a "cure". I feel like if I got back on the bc and take accutane it will only be a temporary fix until I decide to stop the bc again. I need some advice!

[Bonnie78]

Hi there! I'm new to this. I'm trying to get some advice and basically talk to someone that is going through a similar situation that I am going through. I stopped taking bc pills after about 9 years in Sept and my skin was good until Dec. I've always had pimples and breakouts but my acne was mild on the bc. My skin has progressively started to get worse and worse month by month after stopping the bc and I am starting to feel very depressed over it. I really don't know where to go from here. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and I know it's hormonal acne, but my dermatologist thinks the only thing that will help is going back on bc pills and trying a round of accutane. I took accutane about 8 years ago and it seemed to minimize my acne but it wasn't a "cure". I feel like if I got back on the bc and take accutane it will only be a temporary fix until I decide to stop the bc again. I need some advice!

Hi Kalbibella
I have recently been throughout the exact same thing so I understand how you are feeling.
I was so miserable that I gave in two months ago and went back on the pill. It's only just starting to clear up my skin now as the doc said to give it 3mths to kick in (and it takes 3 mths to stop working..which is why you broke out 3mths after stopping). I'm now dealing with horrible purple marks all over my cheeks

This was a tough decision for me to go back on the pill, because I really want to try and get pregnant next year and I know that I'm prolonging the enivatable, but I feel I'll probably be more prepared for it next time as it came as a complete shock to me, after not having a pimple for the last 10 years! I've spent $1000s of dollars the last 5 months so I know what doesn't work! Next time I'm going to focus on taking suppliments months before I go off the pill to help balance out my hormones. Something I never actually tried this time round.

I also wish I considered roaccutane at the very beginning but I was in denial that my acne would get that bad and I was so scared of the side effects. But inhindsight the devasting low self esteem and depression I've felt the last 5 months would have far outweighed any side effects. I have a derm appoint in a month and will be asking her if there is any point on doing a course if its all just going to come back once I go off the pill again. If roaccutane will prevent me from breaking out after I come off the pill then I think that's what I'll do and then never go back on the pill again!

I guess I haven't given much advice, but just letting you know Ive been through it all too and where I'm at. I know I haven't cured it yet but the pill is just helping me continue to live my life until I'm ready to face it all again - fully armed!

[N.clare]

Hi there! I'm new to this. I'm trying to get some advice and basically talk to someone that is going through a similar situation that I am going through. I stopped taking bc pills after about 9 years in Sept and my skin was good until Dec. I've always had pimples and breakouts but my acne was mild on the bc. My skin has progressively started to get worse and worse month by month after stopping the bc and I am starting to feel very depressed over it. I really don't know where to go from here. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and I know it's hormonal acne, but my dermatologist thinks the only thing that will help is going back on bc pills and trying a round of accutane. I took accutane about 8 years ago and it seemed to minimize my acne but it wasn't a "cure". I feel like if I got back on the bc and take accutane it will only be a temporary fix until I decide to stop the bc again. I need some advice!

Just wanted to let you know that its quite normal for this to happen....
I was on birth control for more than 4 years and came off it in october, after that my skin got soooo bad... at its worst in Jan/Feb. It got better and then worse then better.. etc.
Its finally starting to "normalize" now (about 6/7months later). You have been on the pill much longer than I was so I can imagine it would take your body a lot longer to sort itself out.

Things that helped me get through it were...

1. Keeping a photo diary, look at how your skins changing every week
2. Taking a couple of Ibuprofens when you start to see a really inflammed spot
3. Do a 30% Glycolic acid peel, at home... Google it theyre safe and have really helped my scars fade
4. I try not to eat too much sugar/carbs or caffeine during times when Im severly breaking out as this seems to make it worse
5. I have also been taking Saw Palmetto twice a day (this is a natural anti-androgen, which is what my contraceptive pill did)

[/list]I have just had a blood test at my doctors to check that my hormones are normal levels and to check everything else is okay (my periods had virtually disappeared). While I was there, I was told its very normal for this to happen after a long time of taking the pill, but eventually your body gets itself together, apparently on average it takes about 6 months.
If you have PCOS then you should have been offered Spironolactone by your doc, ive never taken it but I have researched A LOT of stuff to do with this and it seems to be a cure for many women with PCOS.
I would also suggest you read a bit about Saw Palmetto for acne (just google it)

Good luck!

[AmaraG]

Hey lindsayb1,

I was put on birth control when I was 14 years old due to horrendous periods, rupturing ovarian cysts and many other dramatic and life-altering affects directly associated with my monthly cycle. I've tried the pill, the patch, and had the most success with Nuvaring. I'm 24 now, and have never been sexually active.

I had my tonsils taken out back in August 2010, had to take antibiotics, and that severely screwed up my, uh, "downstairs." Heavy discharge (my crotch felt velcroed to my underwear), itching, burning, you name it - I was experiencing it. I tried natural remedies, prescriptions - I couldn't get my body straight again. My doctor finally suggested going off birth control to see if my body somehow couldn't "heal" while the ring was in place. So, I took it out the end of October 2010. November - clear skin - maybe one pimple. December went fairly smooth - maybe two pimples. January - six pimples. Next month? Who knows. I'm really hoping that I just had the worst of it this month. My stepmother is an RN, and she told me that it takes our bodies about three months to adjust to hormonal shifts like the one I threw my body into after taking birth control for 10 years.

I'll be sure to keep you posted. So far, the yeasty terribleness that I was experiencing has gone away, and if my body goes through this next month without upset, I'll be kicking BC until I actually fricking need it.

can I recommend: probiotics? kefir, yougurt and or good ones in pill form from the health store?
andy cranberry juice cant hurt either--not one with added sugar I mean straight juice.
There are other things too but I find these help the most.birth control+ antibiotic together almost guarantees a yeast problem, for us of the 'fairer sex" anyway. Unfortunately.